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AR15.COM
10/18/2011 3:17:43 PM EDT
Alright so its been about 3 years since I built my last PC, and haven't played PC games or even really messed with a PC in over a year now, so I'm quite rusty and very much out of the loop on whats cool new and high speed. I decided I wanted to build another PC when I get home from this deployment but I don't wanna spend a shitload of money. Here's what I'm working with (my buddy is hooking me up with it):



Antec 900 Tower with Xigmatek fans

Gigabyte EX58-UD3R Mobo

Intel Core i7 920 CPU

6GB Gskill 1600 PC3 12800 DDR3




So I'm gonna need a PSU, HDD, and video card. What should I be looking at with that setup? What would compliment it well? I'm not expecting to get insane performance out of this rig since most of the components are already 3 years old, but I still want something that I can throw most modern games at and play at decent settings. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
10/18/2011 3:31:05 PM EDT
[#1]
Quoted:
Alright so its been about 3 years since I built my last PC, and haven't played PC games or even really messed with a PC in over a year now, so I'm quite rusty and very much out of the loop on whats cool new and high speed. I decided I wanted to build another PC when I get home from this deployment but I don't wanna spend a shitload of money. Here's what I'm working with (my buddy is hooking me up with it):

Antec 900 Tower with Xigmatek fans
Gigabyte EX58-UD3R Mobo
Intel Core i7 920 CPU
6GB Gskill 1600 PC3 12800 DDR3

So I'm gonna need a PSU, HDD, and video card. What should I be looking at with that setup? What would compliment it well? I'm not expecting to get insane performance out of this rig since most of the components are already 3 years old, but I still want something that I can throw most modern games at and play at decent settings. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020&cm_sp=Cat_Power_Supplies-_-Spotlight-_-17-139-020

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020&cm_sp=Cat_Power_Supplies-_-Spotlight-_-17-139-020

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150512&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&PageSize=10&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo
10/18/2011 3:33:42 PM EDT
[#2]
Thanks man. Your first two links are the same, but do you think a 650w would cut it? Seems kinda low, but then again I've always heard that you never need as big of a PSU as you usually think you do.
10/18/2011 4:10:58 PM EDT
[#3]
Quoted:
Thanks man. Your first two links are the same, but do you think a 650w would cut it? Seems kinda low, but then again I've always heard that you never need as big of a PSU as you usually think you do.


HDD:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

650W will be more than enough.  It is unlikely your system will ever spike above 400-450W.
10/18/2011 4:46:55 PM EDT
[#4]
An SSD with your OS and games, with a TB to store random shit.  You will thank me later.
Best SSD for the money.

Whatever's in your price range.
Best graphics card for the money.


10/19/2011 2:32:10 AM EDT
[#5]





Quoted:



An SSD with your OS and games, with a TB to store random shit.  You will thank me later.


Best SSD for the money.








I've really been considering doing that... How big of an SSD should I look for? It's been a long time since I installed an OS, how much space does Windows 7 take up on a fresh install?

 






Also, how does the Intel Core i7 920 stack up against more modern processors? Is it still fairly decent?




ETA: Spec sheet for the 920


 
10/19/2011 5:02:49 AM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:

Quoted:
An SSD with your OS and games, with a TB to store random shit.  You will thank me later.
Best SSD for the money.


I've really been considering doing that... How big of an SSD should I look for? It's been a long time since I installed an OS, how much space does Windows 7 take up on a fresh install?  

Also, how does the Intel Core i7 920 stack up against more modern processors? Is it still fairly decent?

ETA: Spec sheet for the 920
 


I have a 60G SSD in my PC and it's too small today with game sizes.  When I download BF3 next week I can't have any other games installed.  I have a 128G SSD in my laptop and it's nice.  It's hard for me to use other computers now that I'm used to the speed of SSD.  

I have an i7 930 and have no complaints about it.  Although If I were to build today then I'd get a Sandy Bridge CPU.  I'd give you an example but Newegg isn't working for me right now.
10/19/2011 5:43:29 AM EDT
[#7]


Hmm, most 128GB SSD's are well out of my price range. This 64GB would be too if it wasn't on sale. I think I'll just buy it for my OS, maybe select games. I think I've decided on my shopping list:



HDD/SDD:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136795 (I have NEVER in my life needed more than a 320GB HDD. This seems like a steal for what I need.)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441

GPU:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948

PSU:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139024



With a copy of Windows 7, some Arctic Siver, and a drive bay converter, plus all the promo codes, final price is $554 shipped. So for a grand total of $670 I think I'll get a pretty good gaming rig, yea/nay?

10/19/2011 6:52:13 AM EDT
[#8]
That PSU is more than enough for your system. Looks GTG.



FWIW, I run a SATAII SSD for OS, and a 10k 300GB Raptor for applications. Plenty fast.
10/19/2011 9:32:00 AM EDT
[#9]
Quoted:
Hmm, most 128GB SSD's are well out of my price range. This 64GB would be too if it wasn't on sale. I think I'll just buy it for my OS, maybe select games. I think I've decided on my shopping list:

HDD/SDD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136795 (I have NEVER in my life needed more than a 320GB HDD. This seems like a steal for what I need.)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441
GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948
PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139024

With a copy of Windows 7, some Arctic Siver, and a drive bay converter, plus all the promo codes, final price is $554 shipped. So for a grand total of $670 I think I'll get a pretty good gaming rig, yea/nay?



Not sure why you would pay ~$59 for that 500GB hdd when the 1TB HDD I linked to is the same price.  Might as well go bigger if they are the same price.

As for the ssd, I'd switch to this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226151&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&PageSize=10&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo

or if you can afford a bit more:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226247&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&PageSize=10&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo

If you want to save money, you might want to wait a bit for black friday/cyber monday deals.
10/19/2011 9:48:23 AM EDT
[#10]


The i7 920 is 3 years old technology.
Edit: The LGA2011 boards/CPUs should be released soon. These offer quad channel memory and will be upgradeable for the next few years. According to my 5 minute google research the i7-3820 will be priced around what the 920 was 3 years ago.
10/19/2011 9:59:04 AM EDT
[#11]




Quoted:



The i7 920 is 3 years old technology.
Edit: The LGA2011 boards/CPUs should be released soon. These offer quad channel memory and will be upgradeable for the next few years. According to my 5 minute google research the i7-3820 will be priced around what the 920 was 3 years ago.




I understand that, but you'll notice I mentioned in the OP that I'm buying it from a friend cheap. He's selling me the CPU, Mobo, and RAM for $120. All have maybe 125hrs of use, tops. If it weren't for that I probably wouldn't even be building a PC in the first place. So I'm working with what I've got.



ETA: If I wasn't buying the CPU from him, I'd still be running on my even older E8400 Wolfdale and EVGA 8800GT. Buying the newest highspeed shit isn't an option right now. Plus, it's almost never worth it to me. I feel like the 920 will do me just fine for a little while, and when I need to, I wont be afraid to overclock.
10/19/2011 12:07:43 PM EDT
[#12]
I see no need to go nuts with the CPU anymore. I have a 2 year old Athlon II X4 630 and run Bad Co 2, Black Ops, MoH, Portal 2, etc. with everything cranked up at desktop resolution getting 60+ FPS. Spend the money on the video card. That said, I'm thinking about putting in a Phenom II X6 1100T shortly, but it's mostly so I can help a friend build his machine by loaning him my current chip.
10/19/2011 12:38:36 PM EDT
[#13]
In my opinion an SSD would be good for OS but I would use a standard drive for all your storage. only other tip i can give you is make sure your wearing your anti static bracelet when you put it together :P
10/19/2011 12:43:39 PM EDT
[#14]
So you're stuck with the 920?



I have a 930 and I am seriously thinking about moving to the 2600K
10/19/2011 1:38:12 PM EDT
[#15]
Lots of good info here:  http://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc


10/20/2011 2:38:25 AM EDT
[#16]
Alright, so I think this is my final loadout. What do you guys think? Will it be able to handle most modern stuff? I haven't played PC games in ages...












Gigabyte EX58-UD3R Mobo


Intel Core i7 920 CPU


6GB Gskill 1600 PC3 12800 DDR3


Sapphire Radeon HD6870


Corsair 700W PSU







OS installed on an SSD. Maybe a few games too. I just wanna be able to play most newer games without any major hiccups.




ETA: If I really get bitten by the bug when I build this, I'll probably end up buying a new mobo/CPU. But for now, this is my rig.

 
10/20/2011 5:27:48 AM EDT
[#17]



Quoted:


Alright, so I think this is my final loadout. What do you guys think? Will it be able to handle most modern stuff? I haven't played PC games in ages...






Gigabyte EX58-UD3R Mobo

Intel Core i7 920 CPU

6GB Gskill 1600 PC3 12800 DDR3

Sapphire Radeon HD6870

Corsair 700W PSU




OS installed on an SSD. Maybe a few games too. I just wanna be able to play most newer games without any major hiccups.




ETA: If I really get bitten by the bug when I build this, I'll probably end up buying a new mobo/CPU. But for now, this is my rig.
 



I play a lot of games and I run a I7 860.  I don't think anything really fucks with the processor enough.  You'll be fine. a little more RAM would be useful.